Gale Banks is off his rocker!

[Sled Puller]

W



The sad fact implied in that above quote, is the gradual acceptance of higher RPM in diesel engines as normal, beneficial and a necessity, and the forgetting of the FACT that the traditional basic advantages of a diesel were in it's power, torque and economy at LOW RPM.

One of my primary reasons for buying the '02 Dodge/Cummins combo was EXACTLY due to the fact that 2000 RPM is right at it's "sweet spot" for power, economy and torque - IF I wanted or preferred high RPM operation, I'd have bought a gasser, or a Ford or GM V8 diesel - or waited for one of the "latest and greatest" new high RPM EPA regulated diesels all buyers of future trucks will be forced to drive because nothing else is available.



But no, I prefer to continue with a traditional diesel. one with a heavy block, long stroke, and power in the 1800-2000 RPM range that EASILY handles all loads that *I* have yet to place upon it... :-laf

100% correct. Newbies to the Diesel market have been trying to turn them into high revving V-8 gassers, and lose all the advantages we had, with a proper Diesel, over gas. Mostly because they do not understand TORQUE.

 

[AKaiser]

Well, yeah I'm sure. I'm not running 3200rpm all day long here. I'm mostly down under 2000rpm since every day isn't a race from point A to B.



I like to run the motor though the RPM band once every now and again, either I'm at 1/4 throttle taking it up slowly, or at WOT banging gears.



I've noticed if I go for a week taking it easy, the truck doesn't run right. So I ran her up to 117-ish (key in start, ABS off, 3200rpm, 1400EGT in 32-degree temps). After a run like that, all seems better burn up some soot I suppose.

I'm with you all the way. Used to "burn out the carbon" on my previous rides. 99 Ram 318, 92 Dakota 3. 9L, 85 Diplomat. I need a load to really work this truck. I've put 20,000 miles on it since I bought it in Oct, and all were easy miles. Except for maybe that stretch in West TX

 

[MA2LA]

I see no prpblem using every bit of the rpm that is there to use. my 99 with 3. 55s and an auto wouldn't pull worth a darm around 2000 rpm so many mile in the mtns it truned 3000 rpm. now with my 06 the 3. 73s help that a bit plus the almost 50% incress in power it pulls much better. but it still spends many hours turning 2300 plus on the highway. with eats fuel but untill i can get an overdrive ubit its the way it will have to run. bottom line is that these newer trucks like rpms, just like the 24valvers like mored rpm than the 12 valver.

 

[BTowler]

There seems to be a point being missed here. Without EXTEMELY MAJOR MODS the 2500 and 3500 will never be able to utilize the higher rpm lower torque combination! You would basically have to slam it, change the suspension out, prefferably an IRS set up, work on the weight balance, etc. to make the truck a "race truck". As is they are only capable of towing, sled pulling or drag racing, and for those you don't want to loose any torque! These trucks are heavy, even without the Cummins in them, you loose torque, you loose the ability to get the truck moving with a load or launch hard at the strip!